Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-06
uuIN IN THE GOLDEN GATE.
Giant Powder wrecks n Schooner
and a Hotel.

evening" OOttH GtOlft AZ
rine reporter, saw the Parallel
come ashore at point of rocks forming
cove at the Gill House. All sails
were set and both lights were burning.
Re Immediately gave the alarm and
fastened down 10 the cove. j. NJ. vii
kins, of the Cliff House, also hurried
down to the cove, where Mr. Sutro is
building his aquarium. They threw
ropes out to the vessel under the idea
that the crew were on board, but the
ropes failed to reach her. Mr..
Wilkins then took buggy and
drove down to the life-saving
station. The life-saving men knew
nothing of the wreck. He woke them
up and they brought ont their appara-
tus. With the aid of his horse the life
saving apparatus was hauled up the hill
and down to the cove. BY that time
Hyslop he'd found that no one WAS
aboard. II was one hour and ten min
uies from the time the wreck was dis
covered when the life-saving crew
reached the place. Seeing that nothing
could be done, the life-savlng men built
a bonfire on the beach and the civilians
all went home. The Cliff House WAS
| shut and all went to sleep.
At / o'clock the slecpers were thrown
from their beds by terrific explosion,
which made them think that great
earthquake had upbeaved the cliff or Il
tidal wave swept mp from the Pacific.
An enormous wave dashed up and
yaulted over the Cliff House. The
whole shore and cliff literally trembled
| and shook as no earthquake has shaken
the earth for years. People were rude
" thrown from their beds by the force
of the explosion. Furniture and bed
steads were tossed and heaped about
the rooms The schooner Parallel was
practically obliterated. Pieces of the
wrecknge were found more than mile
away.
The hfe-saving men about the bonfire
on tire cliff were thrown down, and all
were badly injured. They were taken
to the Merchants Exchange station in
diving condition. Horace Smiths
skull was crushed, his shoulders crushed,
and his legs badly bruised. He was
taken to the life-saving station, where,
at $3.50 4. NJ, he lay quite senseless.
Little hopes are entertained for his re-
coveIy. Charles Rogers, another A.
t0chc of the life-saving station, fell
over the cliff i'll going to the scene of
the explosion and broke or sprained
his ankle. John Wilson was cut and
burned. but the extent of his injuries
could not be learned definitely He
was taken up the hill to the signal sta
ton. A japanese servant boy and
| several others in the vicinity were cut,
bruised, and otherwise injured.
The Cliff House presented IA scene OF
wreck which beggars description.
Every window in the house was
| smashed, even the frames and wood
work being blown into match-woOd.
| Ioors were lifted off their hinges and
blown across the rooms. The plaster
ing WIS torn of in sheets. The large
balcony on the west side, from which
visitors looked ut the seals, has IA huge
gap in the middle. and it was danger
Gus to venture upon it. The heavy
front doors were twisted of Their
| hinges The bar was Il total wreck.
The glasses Uttered the floor, and ex-
pensiye pictures were scattered among
the dcbyiS. In fact, the whole build
ING seemed to have been wrecked a5 by
an earthquake The south piazza lost
one portion OF its balcony, and wreck
age weighing many pounds, which had
been swept clean over the roof OF the
hotel, lies on this piazza. The kitchen
was torn to pieces Ii was at the north
end. which received the full force OF
the shock. The dining-room was alsc
totally wrecked. The tables were over
turned and the plastering covered the
floor. In word, complete rum was
apparent everywhere. Had the explo
sion been trife more severe the build
ing would certainly have fallen dowr
the cliff into the sea. Mr. Wilkins es
Inmates that his loss is not less than
900. eco, as the hotel will have to b'
practically rebuilt.
At the time of the explosion JOIN
Hvslop. the marine reporter at Pom
| abos. was viewing the wreck through
his glasses, and the great conclusion
shattered the instrument and wrecked
the furniture i'll the office, but Mr.. Hys
lop escaped without injury.
Adjacent TO the Cliff House is two
story residence occupied by one of The
proprictors Of the hotel. This build
ing was lifted bodily and carried a
least half dozen feetsinland. 1t VA
wrecked worse than the hotel, and 4
wrcnched and twisted all ont Of shape
A little child of Mr. Wilkins lying III
crib was so severely cut that 1t wa
Thought TO be dead Adjoining the cot
tage was a large shed for horses, anC
under this was the barn. This entire
structure was Frustrated and thu
broken timbers were drenched viii
a shower of salt water thrown
ND hv the terrible force OF thu
explosion. The windows i'll Adolpl
Sutro's residence, half mile from
the wreck, were smashed to atoms, tn
conservatory completely wrecked, an'
other out-buildings adjacent were badl'
injured. The Ocean House and the pa
viiion on the beach also suffered badly
Windows were torn out, doors bodil'
thrown from their hinges, and wood
work twisted and sprung ont OF place
Stoves were thrown down and glass
ware and crockery left in heap on tin
floor.
The shock of the explosion was fel
for miles and reached as far inland a
Stockton. San Jose, and other places
whence anxious inquiries were sent TIL
evening.
A boat from Saucelito this evening
brought to this city the captain and ere,
of the Parallel. The story they tell
a singular one. They claim that thoug
they left this port three days ago the,
have been unable, owing to baiilln
head winds, to get out of sight of tn
entrance to the harbor. They say tina
early last evening they concluded tina
the loss of the vessel was inevitable, an
so took to the boats and left the schoon
or TO her fate. According to their story
from the point where they left the YES
sci all the lights at the entrance OF tn
harbor must have been plainly visible
and the captain must have known tbs
, if he had sent up rockets or burne
-. e l:.t,,cc 4ba mo r,na observer